About St. Mary · Willmar, Minnesota
The Church of St. Mary is a Catholic parish located at 713 12th St. SW in Willmar, Minnesota, and serves as the administrative center (AFC Office) for the Catholic Area Faith Community of Jesus Our Living Water — a collaborative grouping of parishes that includes St. Mary (Willmar), Our Lady of the Lakes (Spicer), and St. Clara (Clara City). With a little over 2,000 families and 4,800 parishioners, St. Mary is the largest parish in the area faith community and is home to the largest Latino/Hispanic population in the Diocese of New Ulm, which is reflected in its regular Spanish-language Mass. The parish operates jointly with its sister parishes under shared pastoral leadership and offers Mass in both English and Spanish, a robust faith formation program, sacramental preparation, youth ministry, and active outreach ministries.
- Patron
- Blessed Virgin Mary
- Rector
- Fr. Ronald (Ron) Huberty
- Diocese
- Diocese of New Ulm
Why belong here
St. Mary is the heart of a thriving, multi-parish Catholic community in west-central Minnesota, where weekend Mass is celebrated in both English and Spanish — a reflection of its being home to the largest Latino Catholic population in the Diocese of New Ulm. The parish is the administrative center of the Jesus Our Living Water Area Faith Community and offers a full sacramental life including weekday and weekend Masses, regular confession, faith formation for grades 1–11, sacramental preparation, confirmation for grades 10–11, a youth group, OCIA, Bible studies, prayer shawl ministry, quilting, bell choir, adult choir, youth choir, Knights of Columbus, CCW, and a parish foundation gala. New parishioners find a welcoming place rooted in the mission of being united in the sacraments, called to live the Gospel, and committed to serving the diverse People of God.
Mass times at St. Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:45–4:15 pm at St. Mary, Willmar (before the 4:30 pm vigil Mass)
Adoration times
- Thursday 5:00 pm at Our Lady of the Lakes, Spicer (parish community offers Eucharistic Adoration weekly at OLOL)
About the Parish
The Church of St. Mary in Willmar, Minnesota, is a Catholic parish of the Diocese of New Ulm and serves as the administrative center (AFC Office) for the Jesus Our Living Water Area Faith Community. The parish is located at 713 12th St. SW, Willmar, MN 56201, with the AFC office open Monday–Thursday from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm. St. Mary is home to the largest Latino Catholic population in the Diocese of New Ulm, and the wider AFC numbers over 2,000 families and 4,800 parishioners.
- Address: 713 12th St. SW, Willmar, MN 56201
- Phone: (320) 235-0118
- Fax: (320) 235-0153
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Monday–Thursday 8:00 am – 4:30 pm
- Diocese: New Ulm
Mission & Vision
The parish's mission statement, drawn from its 'living water' identity, focuses on unity through the sacraments, living the Gospel, and serving God's diverse people. The vision statement is a two-fold call to share and to be the love of Christ.
- Mission: Through the living water of baptism, we are: united and nourished by the sacraments, called to live the gospel of Christ, committed to serve the diverse people of God.
- Vision: Sharing the life of Christ. Being the love of Christ.
History of the Jesus Our Living Water Area Faith Community
The history of St. Mary as published is the history of its area faith community. As part of the Diocese of New Ulm's Plan for Parishes, St. Mary joined with St. Patrick of Kandiyohi, St. Thomas More of Lake Lillian, and Our Lady of the Lakes of Spicer to form a collaborative grouping. Joint parish council meetings led to an Area Pastoral Council in May 2006, and in 2007 the AFC took the name Jesus Our Living Water.
- May 2006: Area Pastoral Council formed with three representatives from each parish
- 2007: AFC named 'Jesus Our Living Water Area Faith Community'
- July 1, 2010: Bishop John LeVoir appointed Fr. Steve Verhelst as pastor of all four parishes
- June 30, 2016: Churches of St. Patrick (Kandiyohi) and St. Thomas More (Lake Lillian) closed; their crucifix from St. Patrick is now the main crucifix at St. Mary
- December 31, 2021: Fr. Jerry Paulson retired but continues to celebrate daily Mass at Our Lady of the Lakes
- July 1, 2020: Church of St. Clara in Clara City joined the AFC
Mass & Sacrament Schedule
St. Mary offers weekend Mass on Saturday evening and Sunday morning, plus a Spanish Mass on Saturday evening and daily noon Mass on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday. Confessions are heard before the Saturday vigil Mass, and additional sacramental preparation (baptism, marriage, first communion, confirmation) is coordinated through the AFC office.
- Saturday 4:30 pm (English) – Confessions 3:45–4:15 pm
- Saturday 6:00 pm (Spanish)
- Sunday 9:00 am
- Tuesday 12:00 noon
- Wednesday 12:00 noon
- Friday 12:00 noon
- Confession: Saturday 3:45–4:15 pm; private appointments available with priests
- Other AFC Masses: St. Clara Sunday 8:00 am; Our Lady of the Lakes Saturday 4:00 pm, Sunday 10:00 am
Sister Parishes of the Area Faith Community
St. Mary is joined in the AFC by two other active parishes and serves as the keeper of records for several closed parishes. The three active parishes collaborate on faith formation, sacramental preparation, and pastoral planning.
- Our Lady of the Lakes — 6680 153rd Ave NE, Spicer, MN 56288 — (320) 796-5664
- St. Clara — 414 Main St N, Clara City, MN — (320) 847-2256 / phone rolls to St. Mary
- Closed parishes with records at St. Mary: Sacred Heart (Raymond), St. Anthony (Regal), St. Patrick (Kandiyohi), St. Thomas More (Lake Lillian)
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation is offered area-wide for grades 1–11, with classes meeting on Wednesday evenings during the school year. Sacramental preparation for First Reconciliation and First Communion begins in grade 2, and Confirmation is a two-year program in grades 10–11.
- Faith Formation grades 1–6 and 7–10 on Wednesday evenings at St. Mary and OLOL
- First Communion preparation (grade 2+)
- Confirmation grades 10–11 with mandatory meetings, sponsor selection, saint name selection, and a student-sponsor retreat
- Totus Tuus summer program registration
- Julie Swoboda — Faith Formation Office ([email protected])
Youth & Young Adult Ministry
The parish supports youth ministry through a youth group, young adult gatherings, and seasonal programs. Volunteers are sought to help lead youth ministry at St. Mary.
- Youth Group grades 6–12 at Our Lady of the Lakes
- Young Adults series (ages 18–35)
- Contact Ann Voller at [email protected]
Hispanic / Ministerio Hispano
Because St. Mary is home to the largest Latino Catholic population in the Diocese of New Ulm, the parish maintains a dedicated Hispanic Ministry. Mass is celebrated in Spanish each Saturday evening, baptism classes are offered in Spanish, and a Spanish prayer group meets weekly.
- Saturday 6:00 pm Spanish Mass at St. Mary
- Director of Hispanic Ministry: Anisabel Palma
- Spanish Baptism preparation classes
- Spanish Prayer Group — Wednesday evenings at St. Mary
Liturgical Music & Choirs
Music ministry is central to the parish's liturgical life, with choirs for adults, youth, and bell-ringers rehearsing weekly.
- Adult Choir — Wednesday 7:00 pm at St. Mary
- Youth Choir — Sunday 8:00 am at St. Mary
- Bell Choir — Monday 5:30 pm at St. Mary
Prayer, Bible Study & Devotions
Bible studies meet throughout the week at the various AFC parishes, and the community gathers regularly for rosary, prayer shawl, and other devotional practices.
- Monday Bible Study 9:30 am at Our Lady of the Lakes
- Wednesday Bible Study 10:00 am at St. Mary
- Thursday Bible Study 1:30 pm at Our Lady of the Lakes
- Saturday Rosary 4:00 pm at St. Mary
- Prayer Shawl Ministry — Tuesday 3:30 pm at St. Mary
- Quilting Ministry — Tuesday 9:00 am at St. Mary
- 'That Man is You' men's program — Sunday 6:00 pm at St. Mary
- Eucharistic Adoration — Thursday 5:00 pm at Our Lady of the Lakes
Parish Organizations & Outreach
Lay organizations and outreach ministries give parishioners ways to live out stewardship and service in the broader community.
- Parish Society
- Knights of Columbus (annual Tootsie Roll Drive)
- CCW — Council of Catholic Women
- AFC Social Justice Team (Zoom meetings)
- St. Mary's Foundation (annual Gala)
- Nursing home / assisted living Mass ministry at Bethesda North Pointe, Clara City Care Center, Bethesda Grand Chapel, CURA Care Center, Sunrise Village, Copperleaf, and St. Mary's Chapel
Sacraments & Sacramental Preparation
The AFC office coordinates preparation for all the major sacraments, with classes held primarily at the Church of St. Mary in Willmar.
- Baptism: preparation classes in English and Spanish, generally the first Tuesday of even months; celebrated during Mass or outside Mass
- First Reconciliation & First Communion (grade 2+)
- Confirmation (grades 10–11) with sponsor requirements and retreat
- Marriage: contact AFC office at least 6 months prior
- Reconciliation / Confession: weekly before weekend Mass; private appointments available
Livestreamed Masses
Mass from St. Mary (and the other AFC parishes) is livestreamed through the parish website and Vimeo channel, with the goal of posting that week's Mass video by Sunday noon.
- St. Mary livestream page: ourlivingwater.org/st-mary-livestream.html
- Vimeo channel search: 'Jesus Our Living Water AFC'
- Funerals also livestreamed when scheduled
Diocese & Contact
St. Mary is a parish of the Diocese of New Ulm and is listed in Deanery 3. The diocese's website confirms the parish's address, phone, fax, and website.
- Diocese of New Ulm — www.dnu.org
- Diocese listing: dnu.org/willmar
- Mailing address: 713 12th St. SW, Willmar, MN 56201
- Phone: (320) 235-0118
- Fax: (320) 235-0153
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Steve VerhelstJuly 1, 2010 – present (as Pastor Emeritus / Director of Priest Personnel)
Appointed by Bishop John LeVoir on July 1, 2010 as pastor of all four parishes in the Jesus Our Living Water Area Faith Community; ordained a priest for the Diocese of New Ulm in 1990; also serves as the diocese's Director of Priest Personnel.